Restaurateur Plans To Reopen Saturday

Health Officials Give Canton Dining Spot A Green Light

Salmonella Outbreak Still A Puzzle

CANTON — State and local public health officials on Thursday cleared Margaritas Restaurant to reopen, six days after the Tex-Mex eatery was ordered to close because of an outbreak of salmonella.

At least 20 people were infected, including five employees of the restaurant who tested positive for the disease after eating food prepared there, health officials said Thursday.

Even though the original source of the contamination is still undetermined, Margaritas was cleared to reopen because it has been thoroughly cleaned and there were enough uninfected workers to run the restaurant, said Rick Matheny, director of the Farmington Valley Health District.

Of the 15 customers who contracted salmonella after eating at the restaurant between Sept. 21 and Oct. 13, four were hospitalized. All have recovered, said William Gerrish, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Health.

No other outbreaks were reported in the state during that time, Gerrish said.

The most common symptom of salmonella is diarrhea, and most people recover without treatment.

Margaritas owner Dan Garza said he will reopen for dinner at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, but will close Monday and then resume a regular schedule. Garza has been a prominent supporter of community events and charities, which prompted town officials, other local restaurateurs and longtime patrons to offer him support during the past week.

He said he was relieved to learn late Thursday afternoon that he could reopen, but was frustrated that the source of the contamination has yet to be found.

Gerrish said at least one food sample, which contained fresh produce, is still being tested. The rest of the food in the restaurant at the time it was closed -- about $10,000 worth -- was discarded.

After the restaurant was cleaned with a bleach solution, Garza said, one health inspector told him it was the cleanest restaurant he'd seen in 30 years. Margaritas, which had its 25th anniversary the day before it was shut down, now must rebuild its customer base.

``The public can tolerate one mishap, but if it would happen again, that would be it,'' Garza said. ``They'd say, `Dan, go away,' and I'd understand it.''

In an e-mail sent Tuesday, the Canton Chamber of Commerce announced a ``Thank You Margaritas Night'' for Oct. 26, urging members and others to show up for dinner or drinks.

``This will be a great way to show your appreciation to Dan for his selfless support of numerous town charities and non-profit organizations over a long period,'' the e-mail said.

Garza, 54, has worked at the restaurant since it opened, and he and his wife purchased it in 1992. There are 19 other Margaritas in New England, but they are not associated with the Canton restaurant.